Members of Girlguiding Nottinghamshire have come together – virtually – to mark the 90th birthday for one of its properties.
Elton Campsite, close to Orston, was gifted to Girlguiding Nottinghamshire in 1930 by Col. G.N. Pearson. The sloping site covers approx. 11 acres of grass and woodland. Part of the area is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and it has also been the site of hundreds of camps and holds happy memories for generations of Girlguiding Nottinghamshire members.
Therefore it was important to mark this special occasion, even with all group meetings currently suspended. So members of Girlguiding Nottinghamshire from all over the county came together over the weekend of 4th and 5th July to have a special camp – from their own homes.
In total, over 1350 members of Girlguiding Nottinghamshire took part in the camp, across all age groups – from Rainbows (aged 5-7 years), Brownies (aged 7-10 years), Guides (aged 10 to 14 years) and Rangers (aged 14 to 18 years) to adult leaders and members of the Trefoil Guild. As part of the camp, members took part in a series of tasks, including singing Happy Birthday to Elton, making a birthday card, having a campfire and also enjoying some birthday cake! In doing this, they earned a special badge for the event. All proceeds from sales of the badge are to be donated to Children’s Bereavement Centre in Newark, and members are looking forward to giving a donation to the centre to support their work in offering help and support for children aged 3-18, with the grieving process brought on by the death or terminal illness diagnosis of someone close. The charity offers services across Nottinghamshire and it was agreed that in these difficult circumstances it would be something that resonates with our members. More information about the charity can be found here: http://www.childrensbereavementcentre.co.uk/
Jackie Brocklehurst, County Commissioner for Girlguiding Nottinghamshire, launched the camp on Facebook with a special message which welcomed all members to the event. Additionally, a special video was made to commemorate the event, which included pictures and videos of girls and adult volunteers from across the county, all coming together to celebrate. The video can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=926836654470653
Sarah Clarkson, the Chair of the Elton Committee, said “we were looking forward to being together to celebrate all the fun and adventure we have at Elton but instead 1350 people will have special memories of our Stay at Home Camp. Thanks to everybody who joined in and everybody who had a hand in organising and promoting the camp.”
Girlguiding Nottinghamshire supports and encourages girls of all ages and abilities to get the most out of life, and enquiries about membership and volunteering opportunities are always welcome. For details call County Headquarters on 0115 987